Messari CEO Ryan Selkis Under Fire for Incendiary Tweets Following Attempt on Trump’s Life

Ryan Selkis, the outspoken founder and CEO of crypto data platform Messari, is no stranger to controversy on social media. Known for his blunt criticisms of Gary Gensler’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and others, Selkis’s recent tirades on X (formerly Twitter) following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump have sparked significant backlash. This has led to colleagues at Messari, which boasts financial backing from major firms like Galaxy Digital and Brevan Howard, urging him to temper his rhetoric.

Selkis took to X on Thursday to acknowledge the intervention from Messari leadership. “Just had a terrific ‘tough love’ session with Messari leadership, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate people who approach me in good faith and help rein me in because they know my vision and where my heart is,” he posted. “I ran too hot this week, and will address that in full soon.”

The controversy stems from a series of inflammatory posts Selkis made after an assassin’s bullet grazed Trump at a rally. In one now-deleted post, Selkis declared, “Anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a f*cking fire. Literal war.” He further stoked tensions with tweets suggesting that a civil war had begun and advocating for violence in self-defense.

Selkis’s rhetoric did not stop there. He echoed anti-immigration sentiments, questioned the citizenship of an X user, and shared graphic images of a bloodied Trump alongside a famous photo of then-President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden during the Osama bin Laden raid, captioned, “Too true.”

In a particularly provocative move, Selkis posted side-by-side photos of Senator Elizabeth Warren and Trump’s would-be assassin, insinuating a resemblance and questioning Warren’s feelings about the attempt on Trump’s life.

Selkis’s outbursts have drawn criticism for their aggressive tone and controversial content, which are atypical for a CEO of a venture-backed company. Messari, valued at approximately $300 million, plays a significant role in the crypto industry, providing data and insights on digital assets. Selkis’s behavior has raised questions about the impact of his actions on Messari’s reputation and the broader crypto community’s efforts to gain influence in Washington.

Selkis declined to elaborate on his posts when contacted by CoinDesk. However, he continued to defend his stance in subsequent tweets, emphasizing self-defense and urging others to take the current political situation seriously.

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. I got knocked down from a punch I didn’t see coming. Good. Fewer tweets. More long form. More channeled rage, but same mindset: OFFENSE,” Selkis tweeted.

The incident highlights the growing tensions and divisive rhetoric within the crypto industry and its intersection with politics. As Messari navigates this controversy, the industry will be watching closely to see how Selkis’s actions impact the company’s standing and the broader crypto community’s efforts to shape policy and regulation.

Janine Partis
Digital Assets Desk